CubeSat Lab
CubeSat Lab: This team will design, build and test various subsystems of nanosatellite.
Faculty Mentor:
Description:
CubeSat Lab is currently working on the APEx mission, Purdue’s entry into the University Nanosatellite Program (UNP). The mission will test a novel electric propulsion system in low earth orbit. The payload is a pulsed-magnetoplasmadynamic (PMPD) thruster being developed by the Purdue Electric Propulsion and Plasma Lab (EPPL). The mission will test differences between thruster performance in ground testing vs on orbit, and will lay the groundwork for adapting the thruster into a dual-mode chemical/electric propulsion system.
Students will design, build, and test a prototype of the satellite and periodically report our progress to UNP through design reviews. One university team will be selected for flight at the end of Fall 2026. Students will choose one of the following subteams: payload integration, analysis (orbital, thermal, and structural), software development, satellite structure, electrical power system, guidance/navigation/control, communications, and command/data handling. Students are recommended to stay on the project for at least 2 semesters in order to make meaningful contributions to the team.
Relevant Technologies
- FPGA/CPU boards
- Microcontrollers
- Networked computing
- Pulsed power systems
- Microfluidic systems
Prerequisite knowledge/skills:
- Interest in the mission
- Strong background in circuits and programming experience is preferred
- Ability to contribute to a multi-semester project
- Students will have their resume reviewed before joining the team to ensure they can make technical contributions to the project. Resumes to be sent to the faculty mentor (Nick Babusis, nbabusis@purdue.edu).